I'd like to make my own cards this season. Bear in mind that I can't draw and I don't want to use a computer. Does anyone have any good ideas or know of websites or books where I could find ideas?

Thanks

One year I made lino block cards, that would problely not be too hard you could problely find some holiday clip art, then using carbon paper, or even graphite on the back trace it on to a block, I used the kind of thick rubber ones in the craft store, then just cut out all the spots you want to be uncolored, ink and print. It was fun and easy, I shuld do that this year. let me know if decide to do this and need better instructions.
Astoria

Astoria,
I'd like more instructions on making the lino blocks. What do you use to cut the block? I have some great 1920s-30s clip art books & I'd love to use some of the pictures.

Here is a great stamp website that has cute holiday stamps:>http://www.papercandy.com/Catalog%20pages/ChristmasOne.htm
I'm thinking of getting the Gift Girl. Cute!

I found an old "letter to Santa" circa 2nd grade that I'm planning to use as the cover art for my holiday cards (mis-spellings and all). Now all will know that I wanted a "tarantula - live, with cage" at age 7. I didn't get one... These things are less embarassing after you hit 30!

Maybe you could make your own "letter" writing with your non-dominant hand...

ohmigod,
that is so cute!
You'll have to post a picture of your letter to Santa card when you're done.
--jo

How about cutting xmas stocking shapes out of fabric and gluing onto heavy cardstock? Red and white stripes, toile de jouy, polka dots would all be pretty, especially with some red or white rickrack/pom poms at the top! The toile would be sooo Martha.

This year my christmas cards will be decorated with paint samples, just collected about four hundred different shades of green and I have been spending the last few days punching christmas trees with my decorative punch, and am trying to create mini pine forests on my cards it's looking really good so far.

I'll go look around I know I have some sites bookmarked with some cool cristmas stuff on them.

have been making cards for a few years (it's my way of keeping in touch with people I don't speak to often - sometimes, throught the whole year. the concept of christmas card pen pals is so funny!) I've done all of these in the past:

photo of me, on vacation at weird places, colorcopied and pasted onto heavy and folded red paper.

weird photo of a little girl on rollerskates, from a cool ass page of wrapping paper, cut up, and pasted onto heavy and folded blue paper.

last year I bought vellum, cut it slightly smaller than my card size (folded red paper from india, with silk strands in it), stamped a dove in the center and embossed stamped snowflakes all around. pasted it on to the paper. it looked so freakin good.

but now I have to figure out what to do this year! aaah!

oh - I'm all punk rock with the message inside the card - I just write it in with a sharpie, mostly. hey, I make over a hundred cards, and I get tired towards the end!

often you can find old kids' picture text books at thrift stores and they often have winter stories in them. in the past, i've taken some of these pictures and made color copies of them. i then glue the pictures to some festively colored card stock. the result cool retro lookin' cards.
last year i made x-mas cd's as cards. i burned about 30 discs, made the cover art (cut up old x-mas cards and green and red paper), made color copies of the art and had a great gift.

erika

One idea I've thought of is colored heavy paper (green,red,gold,silver,white) fold in half to make a card, cut small hole in middle side (at fold) and tie ribbon like a present!
Make sense? Quick, easy, fun! Just ribbon & paper needed. If you want you can print your message inside w/ computer or by hand.
My hubby & I came across some cute boat/ocean images that fit us both so we will probably do that this year. But next year - I think thats my plan.
T~

Take a look at the "instant snowman" on this web page:>http://makingfriends.com/swaps_bags.htm#Bag%20of%20Pretzels%20SWAP
Last year I made cards based around these. I called them my "melted snowman" cards. Instead of having the snowman in the bag I glued the bits to the front of a card. I also added a piece of red wool as a "scarf". They were really successful among my friends and dead easy to mass produce.